What happens during the test?
Blood is collected into one or more small vials labeled with your information.
The technician should wear fresh latex gloves and use a new, single-use needle for each procedure.
A technician or nurse wraps a wide elastic band around your upper arm to help locate the vein. Once the vein is located, usually on the inside of your elbow, the area is disinfected using alcohol swabs. The technician inserts a needle into a vein and pushes a vial onto the needle to collect the blood. The elastic band is removed and after the blood is collected, the needle removed and discarded. You will have to hold a small piece of cotton over the area until bleeding stops. A small bandage will be applied to hold the cotton in place.
The test is almost painless for most people, although feeling a slight pinch when the needle is inserted is normal. The vials of blood are then sent to a laboratory to be tested.
How should I prepare for this test?
In most cases, you do not need to do anything to prepare for this test. Wearing clothing with no sleeves or loose sleeves is recommended so that your upper arm can be exposed.
Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any medication allergies and medical conditions that you may have.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you need to stop taking any of your medications before the test.
What can I expect after the test?
Slight tenderness may occur where the needle was inserted. Keep pressure on the area after the needle is removed to prevent bruising.
Results
The laboratory will send a report to your doctor with all the test results. Ask your doctor when your test results should be available if you want to discuss the results with him or her.
The result of each individual test is given as a number. Since the complete blood count measures a variety of different things, your results will contain many different numbers. Each result should fall within a certain range. If your results are outside this range, your doctor may recommend other tests or treatments, depending on your health conditions and the specific result.
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